The Apiarium Hive Accommodates Bees in Urban Spaces

The Apiarium Hive by Bettina Madita Böhm is a minimalist structure designed for urban beekeepers. The hive is cast in lightweight concrete and equipped with insulating air canals for the colder seasons.The bees are attracted to the hive by a flower pot that sits on top of it; the pot also acts as a cooling mechanism during the warmer months. The cylindrical shape of the hive mimics the natural honeybee habitat.

The design is part of a Berlin initiative that seeks to install beehives in unused spaces within the city, encouraging bee accommodation in urban environments. The initiative is a response to the alarming decline in bee populations all over the world. Considering that bees pollinate more than three quarters of the world's food crops, their continued survival is imperative to our own.

Of her project, Böhm explains, "People are encouraged to merge into a meaningful avocation in relation to nature, while simultaneously improving the ecology of the city."